Don't Waste, Compost!

Several factors lead to food loss and waste - right from adverse weather, production inefficiencies to excessive purchasing and inadequate meal planning.? But the key factor of them all is apathy. When we fail to act, we fail to protect the planet.??

Food loss and waste not only exacerbates hunger and food insecurity, but also contributes to the three planetary crises that threaten our collective future – climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.?

In the landfill, food waste emits methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than CO2; and nitrogen, which when exposed to air forms nitrate that can then leach into the groundwater and pollute the drinking water supply. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO), the carbon footprint of food produced and not eaten is estimated to be 3.3 G tonnes of CO2 equivalent. What’s more? When we throw away food, we also throw away the precious resources that went into producing this food: Energy, water, land, labor, chemicals, money, and so on.? A UN report suggests that globally, the blue water footprint (i.e. the consumption of surface and groundwater resources) of food wastage is about 250 km3. Produced but uneaten food occupies almost 1.4 billion hectares of land - this represents close to 30% of the world’s agricultural land area. This also leads to biodiversity loss as acres of forests are cleared every year for agriculture.?

Resource depletion is a pressing reality, and thankfully, the world is sitting up and taking notice. On August 1 this year, the world observed Earth Overshoot Day, which marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. This means the remainder of the year, we live from overuse, further depleting the biosphere.?

While many countries are slowly waking up to the importance of tackling food waste, it remains a fact that in developed nations, more than 40% of food losses occur at the retail levels and in households, while food services like hotels and restaurants account for 26% of food waste globally. These statistics are a stark reminder that there is a huge responsibility invested in all of us including retailers - who can influence the amount of waste both before and after the food reaches them in the supply chain; restaurants that could avoid overordering, mismanagement of inventory, overproduction, and error during order; and consumers who should inspect their purchasing, eating and storing behavior.?

To effectively combat food waste and address climate change, we must explore every available solution and work together to reverse its effects. While food waste & loss is a global problem, it requires local solutions, one of which can arise right from our own kitchens and backyards: Composting.?

From vermi-composting, bokashi, to time-tested windrow composting – the options are plenty.?

It’s a (black) gold mine

Composting is the science and art of taking organic waste such as food scrap and plant waste and turning them into a rich, nutritious soil enhancer – compost. Farmers call it the “black gold.”?

In the process, composting diverts food from landfill, reduces harmful emissions, reduces the need for fertilizer and improves the structure and fertility of soil. Compost can support soil, plants and increase agricultural yields. It contains three primary nutrients needed by crops: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Instead of relying on synthetic fertilizers that contain harmful chemicals, composting offers an organic alternative. Research has shown the capability of compost to increase soil’s water retention capacity, productivity, and resiliency as well.?

Over the years, industrial composting has been widely adopted as an environmentally friendly way to reduce food waste. One study estimated that the GHG emissions from composting are just 14% of the same food dumped into landfill. It is estimated that if composting levels worldwide increased, we could reduce emissions by 2.1 billion tonnes by 2050. It is a natural example of a circular economy – after all, it involves reducing and reusing food waste, and recycling its nutrients into fertilizer.?

Technological advancements have taken this age-old method to new heights. Traditional composting methods, while effective, often require significant time and effort. It could take weeks and months depending on the method. But thanks to modern technology, it is now possible to get quick and quality compost.?

All in a day’s time?

In line with our mission to give used resources a new life, Ehfaaz adopted the rapid thermophilic bio digestion approach where technology mimics the natural process that takes weeks and months, and produces 100% premium grade compost in just 24 hours.?

Before we established Ehfaaz in 2018, we did extensive research on the technologies available across the globe and Ehfaaz’s technology is the fastest so far in the organic treatment industry. The end product is 100% pure and it is a certified organic fertilizer, rich in organic matter, that is also odorless. The technology works in combination with proprietary enzymes, which operate under high-temperature conditions in a specifically designed incubator. It breaks down the complex organic compounds into simpler components at a high speed. This automatisation uses an enclosed system which treats the organic waste that results in a consistent product which can be used by farmers, landscaping companies and soil conditioner companies.?

All this is achieved in a warehouse in the middle of Dubai negating the need for acres of land traditionally needed to compost.?

The innovative approach offers hope that food waste can be tackled at scale,? potentially eliminating landfills and the associated GHG emissions. It also enables farmers to quickly access the nutrients needed to restore degraded soils globally.?

Technology is not a silver bullet, but it can certainly act as a catalyst in shifting our focus from adapting to climate change to mitigating its impacts – the outcome we all strive for.?

Every solution is valuable, and the technological approach adopted by Ehfaaz is the only one that effectively, efficiently, and comprehensively addresses this triple challenge at scale.?

Food IS NOT Waste?

Ehfaaz’s “Food IS NOT Waste” campaign aims to raise awareness about the scale and impact of food waste, shift public perception, and promote behavior change. Collaborating with government agencies, private sectors, and NGOs, "Food IS NOT Waste" aspires to create a ripple effect of awareness and sustainable food management practices.?

The Gulf Cooperation Council countries rank among the top nations in the world as far as food wastage is concerned. In Dubai, 38% of the food prepared every day is wasted, while in Abu Dhabi the figure stands at 33%. This represents an important issue for a nation where 52% of residents eat out at restaurants more than once a week, according to an estimate.?

Imagine a Dubai where every household, restaurant, and school actively works to reduce waste, turning food scraps into compost & animal feed or redistributing surplus to those in need. This not only conserves resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also strengthens food security and supports local communities.?

By redefining food scraps as valuable resources, the campaign encourages residents, businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations to adopt sustainable practices.?

Stay tuned for more updates on the campaign.?